Animal Control Season 4 Episode 11 Review: Coyotes and Eagles

Animal Control Season 4 Episode 11, “Coyotes and Eagles,” puts Frank in the spotlight, only for him to see himself more clearly than ever.

The season’s penultimate episode, written by David Feeney and directed by Natalia Anderson, is such a fun twist on a character study. Bringing in Oliver Hudson as action star Bradley Boyd is a genius use of a guest star.

“Coyotes and Eagles” leans into the absurd and meta nature of actors acting with actors pretending that they’re actors, and it produces great results. 

Of course, there’s a lot of lovable and side-splintering comedy in the episode.

The running bit of Emily not being able to cuss is low stakes but particularly endearing. Michael Rowland’s timing when Shred fires back with, “Hey, my dad’s a dead man. You take that back,” is a laugh-out-loud moment. 

The pack getting so excited about sugar glass that Frank hurts himself is hilariously predictable. Don’t underestimate this cast’s physical comedy skills!

All the while, “Coyotes and Eagles” is doing a lot of interesting work with Animal Control‘s male characters. From the moment that all the men in the precinct start posing for Bradley, and Victoria (rightfully) says, “Straight guys are so gay,” this episode uses humor to explore men’s fragility and vulnerability.

The show doesn’t need to overtly debate the pros and cons of a juice cleanse. Patel and Shred’s actions do all the heavy lifting. Patel and Shred get so competitive that they make themselves sick and say awful things to each other.

They don’t prove anything to themselves or each other — Patel is still getting in shape for a family reunion, and Shred is still “almost an Olympic athlete.” 

They end up eating the cake anyway, and that works twofold in the end. Templeton doesn’t deserve a birthday cake, especially not from Emily.

“Coyotes and Eagles” more than earns the confrontation between Emily and Templeton. Birthday or not, he does nothing but undermine and threaten her job, so it’s rewarding that she stands up to him in this episode.

In typical Emily fashion, she tries to meet Templeton where he is multiple times. Even if that means scrambling for Shred’s leftover salsa to go to Templeton’s dip party, Emily tries to make up for not making Templeton’s birthday what he wants.

All he does is antagonize her and say that it’s not enough. He even turns the room of employees against Emily, furthering his ambitions for her job.

Animal Control suggests that the birthday cake could be the thing that finally puts Emily and Templeton on a better foundation. It’s actually a relief that “Coyotes and Eagles” subverts that expectation. 

Templeton is anything but remorseful of his problematic (to say the least) behavior, and Emily is always going to be the better and bigger person. 

Plus, this season repeatedly proves that Templton works best as an antagonistic figure. It’d be a shame to lose him in that role when he often gives the pack someone to work against — or begrudingly with — other than the animals.

For Frank, “Coyotes and Eagles” has him work with and against himself — well, the actor, Bradley Boyd, playing a version of Frank.

It’s such a creative way to hold a mirror up to this notoriously insular character, especially after Animal Control Season 4 Episode 7, “Donkeys and Weasels.”

Oliver Hudson commits to the bit in every scene, and the show navigates it all so well. There’s a satisfying arc for the two characters in just one episode. Victoria, who couldn’t care less about celebrities (unless they’re from Twilight), is the perfect person to gradually escalate Frank and Bradley’s dynamic.

Notably, Frank hasn’t been this charmed by anyone since Gronk returned on Animal Control Season 4 Episode 3, “Dragons and Dognappers.” 

It’s telling that Frank bristles a bit when Bradley points out Frank’s flaws, but it’s practically an alarm bell that Frank doesn’t set an eagle against Bradley until he starts flirting with Victoria. The angst is so good! Moreover, the tension becomes unbearable when Bradley makes Frank face his feelings of unrequited love.

The last time the show got this close to a feelings confession was Animal Control Season 3 Episode 4, “Baby Kangaroos and Chickens.” That, too, was instigated by a third party who can see the truth that Victoria and Frank won’t admit.

So, as much as Frank saw things he didn’t like about himself in Bradley, he also saw the truth about his feelings for Victoria. “Coyotes and Eagles” wraps up all of that in the final scene, where Victoria stuns Frank. He believes that chemistry can’t be faked, and these two are certainly not pretending anymore.

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Animal Control airs Thursdays at 9/8c on FOX.

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